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The famed Quartz family includes multiple precious stones, each different from the next; simply remember that the beloved Amethyst belongs to the same group as the exotic Tiger’s Eye.

Etymology

The name Quartz refers to a vast group of minerals with the same Chemical composition and similar physical properties. The term is derived from the Saxon word ‘querklufterz’, meaning cross-vein-ore, while another possible etymology is that it stems from the Slavic term for ‘hardness’ (for more, see the section on the history of Quartz).

Blue Moon Quartz

Chemical composition of Quartz

Quartzes are composed of silicon oxide, and are divided into two major categories: macrocrystalline Quartzes, such as Amethyst, Falcon’s Eye, White Quartz, etc., which present as single large crystals, discernible with the naked eye, and microcrystaline Quartzes such as Agate, Jade and Carnelian, which have small crystals.

Examples of Ouro Verde Quartz

The history of Quartz

Quartz has accompanied human history since the beginning. Worked as a gemstone or used as a tool thanks to its hardness (7 on Mohs’ scale, where Diamond is 9), Quartz likely derives from the Slavic word for ‘hard’, although there are multiple etymological explanations for its name. It is not surprising that Quartz was used for the manufacture of knives, arrowheads and other stone tools. In addition to its practical uses, Quartzes have been used in jewelry for thousands of years, usually cut in cabochon. Various uses of this mineral can be explained by examining properties of the Silicon Oxide that Quartzes are made of, which is the second most common element in the Earth’s crust after Feldspar. Finally, the magical powers attributed to Quartz throughout history should not be forgotten; White Quartz bracelets were worn as far back as the Neolithic period, and who could forget the famed crystal balls used throughout the ages?